Georgia MANOS

31 MAR 1934 - 3 OCT 2022

• BIRTH: 31 MAR 1934, Cook County, IL
• DEATH: 3 OCT 2022, Shawnee Mission, KS

• MARRIAGE: 19 AUG 1960, Chicago, Cook, IL

INDEX

[N33307] Georgia Mary Manos
March 31, 1934 - October 3, 2022

Georgia Mary Vratanina, 88, of Granger, Indiana, passed away on Monday, October 3, 2022 at her daughter's home in Shawnee, KS. Georgia was born on March 31, 1934 in Chicago, IL, to the late Eugenie Manos (Pappageorge) and Peter Manos. She married the late Richard (Dick) Vratanina of Cicero, IL on August 19, 1960 in Chicago, to whom she was married 59 years until his passing in 2020. Georgia is survived by her daughter, Barbara Vratanina-Smith of Shawnee, KS; a son, Richard Vratanina Jr. of New York, NY; and four dear grandchildren, Cassy Smith of Shawnee, KS, Tyler Smith of Phoenix, AZ, and Maya and Mika Vratanina of New York, NY. Georgia is also survived by her sister Stella Kapsalis (Manos) of Chicago and baby brother George Manos of Dallas, TX. Georgia was preceded in death by her sisters Magdelene Bacos (Manos), Athena Lemparis (Manos), and brother John Manos. Georgia was raised in a large and loving family in Chicago. She graduated from Pulaski High School in 1952 and subsequently enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago where she graduated in 1959, working during school and afterwards as a commercial and graphic artist. While at the Art Institute, Georgia met and fell in love with her future husband, Dick Vratanina, another art student who was notably not of Greek extraction like the rest of the family. They were married in 1961 and moved 3 long hours East to South Bend, Indiana, their home for most of the next 60 years. Georgia was eager to follow the lead of her sister and mentor Athena in a career in education, and in the years after her children were born she began teaching in the local schools, where she and Dick developed lifelong friendships with colleagues. Georgia ultimately developed her "sweet spot" as a 3rd grade teacher and unit leader at Harris Elementary where she was most able to apply her creativity and love of learning in mini-economies, learning games, school plays, artwork, costumes, papier mache, and music. Georgia completed her Masters in Education at Indiana University-South Bend in 1982. Alongside her career she found time to raise her two children with much love, creativity, and support for their endeavors. Georgia retired in 1993 and devoted her retired life to her children and grandchildren, gardening and flowers, painting and sketching, camping trips, books, and creative arts and crafts. Her grandchildren loved coming to her house because there was always something fun to find and work on. Her Chicago relatives continued to make the adventurous trip to Indiana from time to time to visit Georgia and the family. A private Funeral service will be held at 12:00pm (CST) on Saturday, October 8th, at The Elms Funeral Home in Elmwood Park, IL. Committal and burial service will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, IL. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Online condolences may be sent to elmsfh@gmail.com.

Posted online on October 06, 2022
Published in South Bend Tribune